Review by Erwan Camus
Photos by Micah Gummel
Volbeat photos HERE
Maybe like some of you, I discovered Volbeat with their great cover of “I only wanna be with you”. this is the perfect example of their music : Elvis Metal. a sweet mix of heavy metal and old fashion rock. this music gives you the energy to go to work!
Volbeat is a danish band created in 2001 and has released 5 albums, the last one in 2013. they have done several tours with Metallica, Megadeath or Nightwish. they have made their path trough all those famous bands, and now they have their own tour in the US.
so when I heard that they were coming to the Hampton Casino Ballroom, New Hampshire, for a show i was really excited, and apparently i was not the only one : the show was sold out in less than 4 hours!
On stage Volbeat is not just playing their songs, they are truly enjoying it and they want to share it, they want you to be happy by listening their music. this is really impressive to see Anders Kjølholm and Rob Caggiano always smiling and playing with people. they are always moving from one side of the stage to the other one. each one can’t help trying reaching people, posing for pictures or making funny faces for films.
The Casino Ballroom is the perfect place for this kind of teasing band : people are very close to the stage, you can even touch them when their are coming on the edges of it. Once more the lights and the balance of the sound was great.
the set list was a mix of their 5 albums, they even let us discover what could be their next album with a short song very energetic and exciting. they gave us a great exemple of their talent and ability : from a cover of Johnny Cash to a perfect duo with Trivium. When “Fallen” started, the guitar of Rob Caggiano stopped working and it took several minutes to replace it, but the other ones kept on playing and made fun of Rob while he was waiting for his guitar, pretty cool isn’t it?
We have been pleased by their powerful and loud music, old and young people were jumping everywhere. I could feel the true link between Michael Poulsen and his public, he just have to ask something and people will do it. I especially loved the “Show me your horns” and the “Show her who is the boss by taking your girlfriend on your shoulders for the next song”.
I can assure you that this show was a real pleasure for the lucky ones who have been able to get a ticket! Be sure the next time Volbeat hits your town to go you will not be dissapointed!
SETLIST
Doc Holliday
Hallelujah Goat
Boa [JDM]
Lola Montez
Ring of Fire
(Johnny Cash cover) (snippet)
Sad Man’s Tongue
Heaven nor Hell
A Warrior’s Call
16 Dollars
Dead but Rising
Fallen
The Nameless One
Evelyn
(with Trivium)
Radio Girl
Ecotone
Maybellene I Hofteholder
(Unknown)
(new song snippet)
Still Counting
Encore:
Pool of Booze, Booze, Booza
The Hangman’s Body Count
The Mirror and the Ripper